Portage Student Receives Prestigious National Award - pg. 11
Getting Up in Their Business - pg. 12
College Employees Create and Help Fund New Student Award - pg. 12

We Are Voyageurs

Portage Alumni Association Flourishing - pg. 15
New program helps Portage students find their way - pg. 16
2015-16 Voyage A Lot More Pleasant for College Hockey Team - pg. 16

Program Offerings
- pg. 18

4 PORTAGE COLLEGE

NEW COURSE WELCOMES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
ABOARD THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP
A new Portage College course is helping high school
students to mind their own business. Introduction to
Entrepreneurship, developed and taught by College
Business Instructor Beverly Lockett, BA, MBA, is designed to
give students a taste of the entrepreneurial life. She notes
the goal of the online course is not necessarily for every
student to become an entrepreneur. It’s to show him/her
that operating a franchise or starting your own business is
an option to consider.
“It teaches them what entrepreneurship is all about – the
struggles, the highlights that they will enjoy, the options
available to them,” she says. “It shows that it can be a career
choice for them.”
During the course, students work on a variety of
assignments, including interviewing an entrepreneur,
posting a motivational speech to YouTube and crafting a
short and persuasive sales pitch (otherwise known as an
elevator pitch).

“Another assignment is to walk around and find something
that drives them crazy,” adds Bev. “Then they have to come
up with ideas on how to fix it.
They also study social entrepreneurship which involves
applying business techniques to cultural, environmental and
social issues.
The online, self-paced course has proven to be a challenge
but also a good learning experience for students from three
Northern Lights School Division high schools who enrolled
this past February.
“They’re not necessarily used to having stuff due on a
weekly basis,” says Bev. “It’s quite an adjustment for them
and a great stepping stone for college.”
The long-time Business instructor has enjoyed the class and
hopes to be able to offer it again soon.
“It’s taken me out of my comfort zone too,” Bev says. “And
that’s good. I really like this course.”
COMMUNITY REPORT 5

NEW PROGRAM AND LAB WILL HELP
HAIRSTYLISTS GET A-HEAD
It started as the strand of an idea – now it’s a few short
months away from becoming a reality. Portage College’s
new state-of-the-art hairstyling lab in Lac La Biche is
nearing completion.The lab will soon be home to up to 28
hairstyling students from across the province, much to the
delight of hairstyling instructor and coordinator Donna Rice,
Jny. (Hairstyling, Barber), B.Ed. She has spent the last year
developing an enriched 1,500-hour certificate program that
the College will be offering this fall.
“It’s very exciting,” enthuses Donna, who brings a wealth
of experience to the salon, including working with the
Edmonton Opera and the Citadel Theatre as well as
teaching. “It’s great to get a chance to create a program
using modern delivery methods. I’m even more thrilled to be
able to welcome students this fall.”
In addition to 28 regular hairstyling stations, the new $1
million lab will feature manicure and pedicure stations and
waxing rooms.
“We’ll even have a private room for haircutting!” adds Donna.

6 PORTAGE COLLEGE

Students in the certificate program will receive expert
training in haircutting, perming, manicures and pedicures
as well as career and portfolio development during their
year at the College. When students are ready to move from
styling mannequins and brave friends, they will operate an
open-to-the-public salon from Tuesday through Saturday.
“Students will get some real-world experience. Weekends
for hairdressers are usually Sunday and Monday,” explains
Donna.
Labour market analyses have shown that there is a strong
demand for hairstylists, especially in the small, rural
communities. There are no other programs offered north of
Edmonton.
“This is an opportunity to start your own business or shape
your career,” says Donna. “There are so many opportunities
with this program.”
For more information about the program,
call 1-866-623-5551.

NEW SPACE A BOON FOR HEALTH &
WELLNESS PROGRAMS
If space is the final frontier, then Portage College’s Health &
Wellness department has crossed it – or at least the parking
lot. After working out of two locations the past few years,
staff and students now have brand new, state-of-the-art
labs and classrooms inside the Lac La Biche Campus. The
space features high-fidelity simulators, one way glass
for observation, recording and playback for debriefing
purposes. These high tech labs allow Emergency Medical
Technician, Paramedic and Nursing students to experience a
wide array of real-life simulations, while being evaluated by
the College’s guiding instructors.

“Students can now take advantage of all the learning spaces
in the College,” Carol says. “They now have a proper waiting
area and even more access to services and supports. This
move really benefits our students.”

While the programs had most of these facilities available
before, Dean of Health and Wellness Carol Ulliac, RN, BScN,
MN, explains that moving from two locations to dedicated
inside space at the Lac La Biche Campus makes the
programs so much more visible.

“All of the simulators are able to operate without any direct
interaction from the instructor so the students are on their
own to practice all of their critical decision-making skills,”
explains Carol. “It’s a really good learning experience for the
students and they’re in a good space.”

At the heart of the labs are the high-fidelity simulators (also
used at the College’s Cold Lake and St. Paul campuses) which
allow students to practice procedures in response medical
emergencies. The infant, child and adult human-patient
simulators can replicate just about any disease, injury or
medical situation.

COMMUNITY REPORT 7

8 PORTAGE COLLEGE

CURLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
A SWEEPING SUCCESS
The house was a-rockin’ when curling teams came a-knockin’
in St. Paul this winter. The Town of St. Paul and Portage
College hosted the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference
curling championships Feb. 26-28. The three-day event,
featuring Men’s, Women’s and Mixed teams from across the
province, provided a high-level exhibition of curling prowess
and a chance for St. Paul and the College to showcase their
facilities.
The College’s Culinary Arts students provided food at the
concession booth. They also cooked up a feast for a Portagehosted gala banquet on Feb. 27. Athletic Director Jim Knight
was ecstatic by how well everything unfolded, crediting the
students and the many volunteers for the events a success.
“I had several e-mails from other institutions saying how
extraordinary the weekend was,” Jim says. He also notes that
the College is planning to apply to host the Nationals in
three years. “They were especially impressed with the food
which they said was way fancier than what they were used
to. I mean, there were even cream puffs in the shape of
curling rocks!”

PORTAGE PROGRAM
RECEIVES NORTH
AMERICAN ACCREDITATION
Hosting guests from across North America last June paid
big dividends for Portage College’s Natural Resources
Technology (NRT) program – “NAWTA” doubt about it.
The College welcomed the North American Wildlife
Technology Association (NAWTA) accreditation committee
and representatives from 16 accredited institutions across
North America for a week-long conference and professional
development seminar. The College received a much-sought
after three-year NAWTA accreditation for the NRT program.
“Portage has provided NAWTA a perfect place for
meetings, professional development, and current Wildlife
Management near Lac La Biche,” said NAWTA Executive Chair
Jim Westerhold. “The field labs are more than appropriate to
facilitate wildlife learning.”
The College’s NRT program is currently one of only two
NAWTA-certified programs in Alberta. Graduates of the
two-year diploma will have the knowledge and skill set to
pursue a career in the Environment and Wildlife fields. NRT
Coordinator Al Bertschi, BSc, MSc, says that the NAWTA
accreditation is invaluable to the program.
“At Portage we teach about the five elements that make
up the environment: soil, water, plants, animals and air,” Al
says. “Being certified by NAWTA is a very important pillar in
recognizing the effectiveness of our quality program.”

COMMUNITY REPORT 9

10 PORTAGE COLLEGE

PORTAGE STUDENT RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS
NATIONAL AWARD
Tuesday October 6, 2015 was an ordinary day for Cherina
Quinney. The 27-year old Portage College Business
Administration student woke up, had a bite of breakfast
… and received a prestigious award from the Governor
General. Well, ok, maybe not so ordinary!
She was one of 30 people from across the country to be
honoured with the Governor General’s Caring Canadian
(GGCC) Award at a special ceremony in Quebec City.
“It was very scary but it was a wonderful experience,” says
Cherina. Since 1995, the GGCC Award has been bestowed
upon Canadians who epitomize volunteerism and
selflessness having a positive impact on other people’s lives.
The former president of the Portage College Student
Association was recognized for her advocacy, for
volunteering at College events, for helping to launch an
after-school project for families and for her random acts
of kindness. Cherina was nominated for the award by four
College staff members.
“Cherina has a genuine desire to make a positive difference
in the lives of those around her. Many people’s lives
have been made brighter due to Cherina’s kindness and
commitment to help others,” wrote Associate Vice President
of Student Services and Registrar Beverly Moghrabi in her
submission. “She freely gives of her time to help others,
asking nothing in return.”

The ever modest Cherina credits her now three-year-old
daughter not only with inspiring her to go back to school
full-time but also with giving her the idea to create Family
Gym Jam, held every Tuesday night at the Lac La Biche
Campus. The semi-structured evening of family-friendly
activities and crafts has proven to be very popular, with as
many as 100 children and parents attending.
“I have a little girl and I’d always go home and have
nothing to do after school. So I asked in 2013 if there were
any family-oriented programs after school,” she explains.
“And they didn’t. So with the help of Parent Link and Bev
Moghrabi, we formed the Family Gym Jam. I just volunteered
my time there because I knew my girl was enjoying it. I love
it!”
Cherina is grateful for the opportunities Portage has
afforded her not only to pursue her career goals but also to
get involved in the student experience.
“I love the size of the school,” she says. “I’ve been here for a
few years so I kind of know everybody. It’s almost like a little
family, a little community. It’s great!”

COMMUNITY REPORT 11

GETTING UP IN
THEIR BUSINESS
Portage College Students Helping
Cold Lake Businesses Develop Their
Marketing Plans
A group of Portage College students have been sticking
their noses into other people’s businesses this winter –
and those businesses couldn’t be happier! As part of their
marketing course, Business Administration Certificate
students in Cold Lake have been working closely with
seven local businesses (including two business incubators),
developing comprehensive marketing plans for each
enterprise. The arrangement is the result of a partnership
between the College and the Rural Alberta Business Centre
(RABC).
Business Instructor Beverly Lockett, BA, MBA, who first
approached the RABC with the idea last fall, has always
believed in the value of getting her students out of the
classroom to discover their own communities.

COLLEGE EMPLOYEES
CREATE AND HELP FUND
NEW STUDENT AWARD
There are no ghosts wandering around Portage campuses
(as far as we know) but there is plenty of Voyageur Spirit.
What started as an idea in the lead up to the College’s
annual Professional Development Day in March 2015
has blossomed into an annual award called the “Spirit of
Portage.” The award recognizes students who encourage
others, volunteer their time and help to create a positive
atmosphere in the classroom and throughout the College.
The award was the brainchild of Carrie Froehler, Cert. (HR),
BA, Director of Human Resources, and members of the PD
Day organizing committee.
“Our staff and faculty have always been very generous in
supporting various causes and organizations as part of
our PD Day,” says Carrie. “This time, we wanted our staff’s
extraordinary generosity to directly benefit our students.”

“It’s great for the students,” Bev says. “In this case, they get
some real-life business experience and get to tackle realworld issues. I think it’s great.”

Even the PD Day Committee wasn’t prepared for the
overwhelming response from College employees. Officially
launched at the March 6, 2015 PD Day, staff and faculty
raised $1,000 that day, and contributed another $6,500 at a
Welcome Back event in September. The Board of Governors
later decided to donate $5,000 to the effort instead of
holding a Board Gala.

The RABC agrees. Small Business Advisor Kathryn Hotte says
it’s a great opportunity for both students and businesses
and it’s a win-win for both sides.

“We were absolutely blown away by the generosity of our
employees and Governors” beams Carrie. “They are definitely
the direct embodiment of the Spirit of Portage!”
Subsequent fundraisers, including a Duelling Pianos dinner
and concert in Lac La Biche March 11, have helped push the
award total to $15,000, all in one calendar year. The goal
now is to create an endowment (minimum $25,000) that will
ensure the Spirit of Portage award lives on students for years
to come.

12 PORTAGE COLLEGE

“This is more than we ever could have dreamed of,” says
Carrie. “We are so grateful for everyone’s amazing support.
It’s wonderful to be able to acknowledge our students in
this way.”

Portage College
staff at PD Day 2016

COMMUNITY REPORT 13

14 PORTAGE COLLEGE

PORTAGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION FLOURISHING
Portage College graduates now have another way of
keeping in touch with each other and their alma mater.
The new Portage College Alumni Association offers
graduates several benefits and communication tools –
without ever soliciting them for money!
“It’s a place where grads can connect with former
classmates, instructors and friends,” explains Student
Experience and Alumni Coordinator Erline Harmse. “It’s a
wonderful opportunity for students and College employees
to keep in touch and to share success stories.”
Alumni have been signing up since the association was
officially formed in January 2015. In one year, 275 graduates
have joined, surpassing the most optimistic projections.
“I’m very pleased,” says Erline. “We’ve more than exceeded
expectations. We originally wanted 50 people by the end of
last year.”

Membership is free and includes several benefits such
as an alumni benefits card, an alumni e-mail address,
free academic transcripts, discounts on Portage College
merchandise and facility rentals, a quarterly newsletter and
personal invitations to College functions. Harmse is working
on adding even more goodies to the list.
“Our goal is to get I.D. cards out to everybody that they can
show at the Bookstore etc. for discounts,” she says. “We’re
looking at developing more swag items for our members.”
As more graduates continue to sign up, Harmse has a hard
time believing how far the fledgling organization has come
in 12 short months.
“I’m happy,” she says. “We keep gaining momentum.”
For more information about the Portage College Alumni
Association, call 1-866-623-5551, send an e-mail to alumni@
portagecollege.ca or check out the association’s Facebook
and Instagram pages and Twitter feed.

COMMUNITY REPORT 15

NEW PROGRAM HELPS
PORTAGE STUDENTS FIND
THEIR WAY

2015-16 VOYAGE A LOT
MORE PLEASANT FOR
COLLEGE HOCKEY TEAM

Navigating your way through college, particularly for the
first time or after a long break from formal education, can
be a very daunting task. A new program at Portage College
is providing students with a figurative compass to help
them find confidence and success at school. Voyageur GPS
matches students with College employees who act as guides
throughout the school year.

What a difference a year makes! Fresh off the worst season
in their eight-year history, the Portage College Voyageurs
men’s hockey team rebounded nicely in 2015-16, improving
by 21 points and battling for a playoff spot until the last
week of the regular season.

Launched as a pilot in September 2015 at the Lac La Biche
Campus, the program is already paying dividends. “I can
name at least two students who wouldn’t have stayed in
school if not for this program,” says Fran Stewart, B.Ed, M.Ed,
Coordinator of Career and Counselling Services. “It’s really
increased the opportunity for students to have one more
contact at the College – and we know how valuable contacts
are for students.”
The Voyageur GPS program essentially works like this:
interested students sign up during orientation and are
matched with employees who have volunteered to
participate. The students then meet with their assigned GPS
contacts to get to know them a little bit and to set future
meeting times. Stewart encourages students and employees
to touch base at least once a week either by phone, e-mail,
text, Skype, or at a face-to-face meeting. College employees
act as guides, listening and empathizing with their
student(s), sharing their own post-secondary experiences,
and directing students to the appropriate academic or
social supports as needed. In addition, all GPS participants
get together every couple of months to talk about how to
improve the program.
Although Voyageur GPS is still in its infancy, Fran is already
seeing positive results and hopes to eventually expand the
program to other Portage College campuses.
“It’s doing what it’s supposed to do,” she says. “The students
who are using it are finding that it’s definitely working for
them. We’re very pleased with the results so far.”
16 PORTAGE COLLEGE

With more than two-thirds of his roster overhauled from
2014-15, first-year Voyageur Coach Arnie Caplan, BA, MA,
guided his team to nine wins and seven ties in the ultracompetitive Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference. Led by
ACAC rookie of the year and team-scoring leader R.T. Rice,
Captain Richard Cameron and Goaltender Kirby Halcrow, the
Voyageurs played a physical, up-tempo and entertaining
brand of hockey to the delight of the home fans. Many of
them showed up to catch the action at the Bold Center in
Lac La Biche. The Voyageurs have the largest attending fan
base in the ACAC!
“We made some great strides this year,” says Arnie, who
brings a wealth of coaching experience to the table,
including stints in Junior A and NCAA Women’s hockey. “We
still have a ways to go but the boys played hard and fought
to the end.”
Having a large and enthusiastic crowd at all home games
certainly helped, Arnie adds. Admission was free this year
thanks to a sponsorship arrangement with Britton’s Your
Independent Grocer in Lac La Biche.
“We definitely hear the cheers and the noise,” says Arnie. “We
appreciate the support and hope to bring our fans some
playoff action next year.”